VARIETIES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2264, 19 June 1880, Page 2

VARIETIES.

Almosphcrieal knowledge is Hot thoroughly distributed in our schools. A boy being asked, “ What is mist p” vaguely responded, “ An umbrella.” A Philadelphia sign painter is so honest that he won’t touch Ids brush to canvas. Ho says he paints so badly that lie is afraid future generations may get hold of his pictures, and pass them off for old masters.

It jins long been reported that DuMaurior draws from Ids own family theslim young people and children who* give so much elegance to the cartoons of “ Punch.”

Johnny wanted to go to the circus.and his father said: “Johnny, I’d rather you’d go to school, and study, and maybe you’ll be President some day.” Said Johnny: “Father, there’s about one million boys in the United States, isn’t there ?” “Yes.” “And every one of them stands a chance of being President?” “Yes.” “Well, dad, I’ll sell my chance for a circus ticket-”

Philadelphia Ledger is reported to have, discovered a simple form of audiphone,. which lie has tried with satisfactory results, although lie is very hard of hearing. A few days ago lie was explaining the principle of the audiphone to some friends, and to illustrate lus remarks, put a folded newpaper between bis teeth, bending it over in the form

of the audiphone: To his surprise he found that he could hear as well with the newspaper as with the audiphone. He subsequently attended an auction sale, and.putting the catalogue between his teeth, and bending it down with one hand, heard all that -was said, although 'without some such contrivance he could hear nothing. The experiment is a very simple one, well worth trying b.y all who are hard of hearing. Newspapers, pamphlets, cardhoards, even sheets of writing paper seem to servo the purpose as well as the hard rubber audiphone.

Ho had Ecason for His Faith. —I believe in a personal devil,” said Mr Moody, at a revival meeting hold in a remote western city, “ That’s true, that’s true —you’re right there, stranger,” said an old farmer, rising in his seat in his earnestness. Whereupon a calm-faced, placid-looking woman rose from the other end of the pew, took him by the car, and slowly led him out, and the assembly knew then for the first time that the old man’s mind was filled with domestic thoughts instead of the hereafter.